mcilhenny



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shet 1. G. A. McILI-IENNY.

GAS RETORT FURNACE No. 248,335. Patented Oct. 18,1881.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. A. MQILHENNY.

GAS RETORT FURNACE.

No. 248,335. Patented Oct. 18,1881.

W d W (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

- G. MQILHENNY GAS RETORT FURNACE. No. 248,835. Patented 0m.- 18,1881,

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. MOILHENNY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

GAS-RETORT FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,335, dated October 18, 1881,

' Application filed July 6,1881. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. MCILHENNY, of Washington, in the county of Washington, and District of Columbia, have invented certain Improvements in Gas-Retort Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to gas-retort furnaces; anditconsists, priinarily,in introducing an automatically-regulated blast or current of heated air into the space between the combustionchamber and the retort-oven; and, further, in various details of construction, whereby said object is advantageously and economically effected.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 representsavertical central section taken through my improved apparatus in a plane parallel with its front; Fig. 2, a similar section at right angles to Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a horizontal section through the air-inlets on the line no 00 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a horizontal section through the fire pot or chamber on the line 3 y of Fig. 1.

The main objects of my invention are to obtain an even uniform heat and to economize fuel, while at the same time expediting the action of the apparatus.

The furnace is constructed with special reference to using the coke withdrawn from the retorts forheating said retorts when recharged, the fire pot or chamber being sunk below the level of the floor or ground and supplied by a chute, the upper end or mouth of which is directly below and in front of the mouths of the retorts.

The grate-surface, which is made larger than has hitherto been customary, in order to cause the fuel to burn slowly and evenly, is located at a considerable distance below the retort oven or chamber, and there is consequently little variation in the heat occasioned by increase or diminution of fuel in 'the fire pot or chamber.

For the purpose of heating the volume of air which is introduced and mingled with the flames, a large trunk or pipe is carried over the tops ofthe chimneys, and ahood orjacket is placed around said pipe to confine the products of combustion and hold them longer in contact with the pipe, thus utilizing their heat to as great an extent as possible. The airtrunk or pipeis preferably dividedby longitudinal partitions into separate passages, through which the air is caused to travel back and forth, in order that it may become highly heated before leaving the same. From the main trunk or pipe the air is conducted by branch pipes through the walls of the furnace, where it is still further heated, and enters the upright flue or passage through which the flames enter the retort oven or chamber at a point a short distance below the retorts from opposite sides. An injector is employed to force the necessary volume of air through the trunk or pipe, and said pipe is furnished with a gravitating valve which opens whenever there is an excess of pressure, and thus automatically regulates the volume of air introduced.

Referring now to the drawings,Arepresents a retortoven or chamber, containing, as usual, a bench of retorts,B; andG represents the fire pot or chamber, located below the retort oven or chamber, and communicating therewith bya vertical flue or passage, a. Near the bottom of v the fire pot or chamber is situated the grate, beneath which is the usual ash-pit, provided with a door at the front. her is preferably of circular form, as shown in Fig. 4, and is contracted or arched at its upper end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The fine a, through which the flames and products of combustion ascend to enter the retort chamber or oven A, is furnished with a damper or valve, D, by which the heating of the chamber may be controlled, and at a short distance above the damper the flue or passage is enlarged from the front toward the back of the oven or chamber, forming a mingling or mixin g chamber, 1), in which the heated air is caused to mingle with the flames and products of combustion.

The fire pot or chamber is supplied with coke withdrawn from the retorts by means of a chute, E, the mouth of which is located just in front of the retort chamber or oven and below the mouths of the retorts, and is closed by a sealin g-cover, F, provided with a guard-plate, c, to protect it against the flames. By thus arrangin g the chute E with reference to the retorts the coke may be supplied to the grate without rehandling, thus saving considerable labor.

As stated, the flames and products of combustion enter the retort chamber or oven The fire pot or chamthrough an upright flue, a, and are met in their passage thereto by currents or blasts of hi ghly-heated air. The body of air th us introduced is first carried or forced through a trunk or pipe, G, carried over the tops of the chimneys H. and thence through branch pipes I downward through the walls of the retort chamber or oven, as shown in Fig. 1, and finally enters the mingling or mixing chamber b through a series of inlets, c, at opposite sides.

In order to more perfectly utilize the waste products of combustion escaping at the chimneys, a hood, J, is placed over each, as shown in Fig. 2, by which the heat is prevented in a great measure from escaping, and is held and directed against the surface of the pipe or trunk G. The hoods may extend any desired distance lengthwise ofthe pipe, and may, ifdeemed advisable, form a continuous jacket or envelope therefor from end to end, suitable outlets being formed at the upper side or other suitable point for the final escape of the products of combustion.

In order to hold the volume or body of air longer under the action of the heat in passing through the trunk or pipe G, the latter is preferably divided by vertical partitions d into a central passage and two outer passages, and the air is caused to enter the former and pass through the same, escaping near the end of the trunk or pipe into the outer passages, from which it is conveyed by the branch pipes I to the inlet-s c, as before mentioned. In this way the air is heated by a gradual action, coming successively into the central passage of the trunk, where it is partially heated, thence into the outer passages thereof, nearer to the heatin g agent, where its temperature is again raised, and finally passing through the branch pipes I, through the highly-heated walls of the oven or chamber A, where its temperature is rapidly raised to a very high degree.

For the purpose of forcing air into and through the trunk or pipe G and maintaining at all times a sufficient pressure and an adequate supply, I preferably employ a steam-injector, K, of any approved pattern, though a fan or other equivalent means may be employed.

It is essential to the successful operation of the apparatus that the supply of air shall be uniform, in order to prevent changes in the temperature of the retorts; and to insure uniform supply or pressure the trunk or pipe G is furnished with a pressure-regulator, which permits all air above the desired quantity to escape. This regulator may be varied in form; but in practice I prefer to employ simply a gravitating valve or lid, and to place the same at the end of the trunk opposite that at which the air enters, as shown atL in Fig. 1. If desired, the valve may be weighted or provided with a spring, and in either case may be made capable of adjustment or regulation as to the force with which it acts or as to the resistance it shall ofl'er before moving to permit the escape of air.

The details of construction may be. modified according to the circumstances under which the apparatus is used.

In its general features the oven will resemble those now in use, fire-brick being used in all places where needed to resist the action of the flames and heat.

The fire-chamber is, by preference, incased in iron and built of circular form, as shown.

Valves or dampers are provided, whereby the amount of air delivered through each of the branch pipes I may be controlled and reg ulated.

I am aware that it is not new to mingle heated air with the products of combustion, or to utilize the waste products for heating the air so used; but I am not aware that any one has hitherto automatically regulated such airsupply or provided a furnace with means for so doing. This constitutes the essential feature of my invention, and is necessary to the practical and successful carrying out of this plan of heating retorts-a fact which will be readily appreciated by gas-engineers.

I am further aware that a hot-air-supply pipe has been carried across the tops of the flues or chimneys of retort-furnaces outside of the ma soury, and that a heating trunk or pipe has been divided by. longitudinal partitions into separate parallel compartments, and the air to be heated caused to pass successively through the several compartments. By my construction, however, the air is caused to enter the middle passage first, which, being shielded on the sides by the outer passages, does not become so highly heated as the latter, into which it next passes and is subjected to a more intense heat. The elevation of temperature is thus rendered gradual, and this gradual heat- .ing facilitates the travel of the air through the trunk.

I am also aware that hinged valves or regulators have been employed in connection with carbnreters to control the inlet of air, and in other places, and that a hot-air-supply pipe has been divided into chambers or compartments; hence I do not broadly claim these features.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. The herein-described method of heating gas-retorts, consisting in mingling with the flames and products of combustion from the fire-chamber, at a point above the fuel, an automaticallyregulated blast of heated air, and introducing the combined elements into the retort-oven, substantially as described.

2. The combination ofa retort oven or chamber, a fire pot or chamber, a flue extending from the top of the fire-chamber to the oven, hot-air-supply pipes communicating with said flue, an air-forcin g apparatus, arranged to supply air to said pipes, and an automatic regulator, to control the supply of air delivered to said pipes.

3. In combination with a retort-oven and a fire-chamber, a pipe or trunk placed over the IIS chimneys of the oven and communicating directly with the fire-chamber at a point above the fuel, an injector or air-forcing apparatus, and an automatic regulator, all combined and operating substantially as set forth.

4. In a retort-heatin g apparatus, the combination of a hot-air-supply pipe, located entirely outside of the masonry and extending across the tops of the chimneys, and a hood or jacket, extending from the mouth of the chimney around the pipe, to direct the heat thereto.

5. A hot-air-supply pipe or trunk divided by longitudinal partitions into three passages, and provided with an inlet opening directly into the middle passage, and an outlet opening directly from the outer passages, whereby the air is caused to pass first through the middle passage and then through the outer passages, as and for the purpose explained.

6. In combination with a retort-oven and its fire-chamber, a hot air-supply pipe, means, substantially such as shown and described, for forcin g air through said pipe, and a valve or pressure-regulator, adapted to control the volume of air supplied by said pipe, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7 The herein-described apparatus for heating gas-retorts, consisting of the oven A, firechamber C,communicatiug therewith by a flue, a, hot-air-supply pipe G, provided With a press- 30 ure-regulator, and branch pipes I, communicating with the flue a, substantially as shown.

8. In combination with a gas-retort furnace,

a hot-air-supply pipe or trunk, provided with a hinged or flap valve, adapted and arranged 35 to control the air pressure or supply, substantially as set forth.

GEORGE A. MGILHENNY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM W. DODGE, WALTER S. DODGE. 

